On December 21, 2024, Pakistan’s military court sentenced 25 civilians to prison for attacking military facilities during the unrest in May 2023. The court handed down sentences ranging from two to ten years, with 14 individuals receiving the maximum term.
The unrest erupted after authorities arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan. His supporters reportedly stormed military installations and set a general’s house on fire. The military labeled these actions as “political terrorism” and warned citizens against taking the law into their own hands.
Amnesty International and other rights groups condemned the sentences, accusing the military of using them to suppress dissent. They argued that these rulings aim to intimidate opposition rather than deliver justice.
Military officials asserted that justice would be complete only after punishing the “mastermind and planners” behind the violence.
Imran Khan served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 until a no-confidence vote removed him from office. He accused military leaders of orchestrating his ouster.
In 2023, authorities arrested Khan multiple times while launching a crackdown on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Thousands of party members, including grassroots supporters and senior officials, faced detention.
Khan, now 72, remains in prison and is disqualified from running in elections. Despite widespread arrests, PTI secured the most seats in February elections but could not form a government due to a coalition favoring military-backed parties.
Recent protests by PTI supporters in Islamabad heightened political tensions. Demonstrators clashed with security forces as they demanded Khan’s release. The military court issued its latest sentences days after an anti-terrorism court indicted Khan for allegedly inciting attacks on the military.
